chuckakers

This will fix you up! http://www.skydivespaceland.com/learn-to-skydive/a-license-in-a-week/ Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Bill - explain that, if you would. I don't understand what that means. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Just spoke with Brenda today about a customer's order. The Vc4 will take a 170. Not sure about anything bigger than that. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

I don't want an AAD because of 1) the expense and 2) the real (albeit minimal) possibility of a misfire at a bad time which could kill me. (Please don't dismiss this without thinking - If your justification for mandatory AADs is based on the slight possibility that it might be helpful you cannot ignore, with your credibility intact, the equally slight possibility that it can kill people.) This is not about the DZO's rights. Nobody is claiming they don't have the "right" to impose this policy - we're claiming it's a stupid policy which ultimately harms the sport. He has the right to demand you wear military paratrooper boots if you want to play at his DZ. If he did, would you be questioning the logic of this decision or would you be berating people who disagree, advising them that they can simply take their business elsewhere? "Voting with your feet" is an empty argument. This is not like bowling, where all one would have to do is drive a few miles to a different facility. Few of us live in an area where we have two or more DZ's within an hour's drive from home. Some of us have only one within a three-hour drive. The basic premise here is more of the left-wing secular mind-set which believes that it is possible to eliminate all accidents & tragedies from the human experience simply by passing enough laws & hyper- regulating people. Thus, when an accident occurs we don't just say "Damn, shit happens" but instead respond with even MORE laws & regulations. For years the USPA leadership has engaged in hand-wringing, trying to figure out a way to increase participation in the sport. Meanwhile, they support policies which make it more difficult for beginners to become skydivers. If mandatory AAD policies are adopted at the DZ's in my area it will put me out of the sport for good. QuoteUSPA has nothing to do with this specific situation, but while we are on the subject I will mention my irrefutable rules of growing the sport that I think you will actually agree with....More people would skydive if it was cheaper. More people would skydive if it was safer. And more people would skydive if it was more convenient. Your drive to the DZ came to mind on that last one. Left-wing secular? Coming from a conservative, all I can say is get off the political bench! The DZO at Skydive San Marcos is a business owner. Without respect to his political views, he and his wife have made a decision - knee-jerk maybe, but it's their business and they are solely responsible for their jumpers and may choose to do whatever they want. As I said in my previous post, I do not endorse mandatory AAD use, but I do endorse DZO's right to do what they see fit to sleep at night. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

John, I'm with you on personal responsibility, but I can't speak to the "unnecessary" thing, as I left my law degree in my other pants. Bottom line - if a DZO says AAD's, then AAD's it is. The other bottom line of course is that we get to vote with our money. I vote with you. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

And yet the reason for the new rule at San Marcos is that an old fart with decades of experience died when he took it in at terminal without an AAD on his rig. I don't personally agree with mandated AAD's, but facts are always facts. All the experience in the world won't help when you are unable to get something over your head. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Got to say, “Nothing Like a Pissed Off DZO” Damn straight. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Sorry, Adam. If you won't support your position when challenged, I feel no need to continue a conversation with you. I'll gladly play forum games, just not irreverent ones. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Well that guy might have been a good cop, but clearly he wasn't much of a skydiver. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

From You, I wouldn’t expect anything Less Care to address my reply to your unsubstantiated claim? Probably not, but I wouldn't expect anything less. Silly boy. Take another hit, and then pass it. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

While I have nothing against the recreation use of pot, your statement doesn't hold water - bong or otherwise. Potheads often do stupid shit and most I know will admit it. To say no one has ever died mindlessly driving through a red light while jamming to Dark Side of the Moon or some other similar screw up is simply disingenuous. Even in skydiving there have been fatalities in which tests proved marijuana use within a short time before the incident. Could it be that the jumper would have made the same errors if straight. Of course, but the same could be said for a guy that blows DWI after a crash. I have no opinion on the OP's post as I don't know anything about the legal system in Norway. I just wasn't going to let a blatantly incorrect statement go uncontested. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Well in the eyes of the plaintiff that's a true statement. Lawsuit on. In that case, why isn't every car manufacturer sued for every drunk driving death because they didn't design every single car to have a breathalyzer interlock in every car? Because drunk driving is a crime and not an approved use by the manufacturer of the vehicle. My guess is there are probably even warnings in the owners manual about it. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Nonsense, he made a claim that people who died might have lived if they had "X". That is by definition advocating something. 1. Then he should not propose a solution if he is not willing to give a THOROUGH explanation 2. Or when he suggests a solution he should also include the dangers his solution might CAUSE. And how EXACTLY is a new jumper going to learn about the downsides when the official report from the official organization fails to mention them? Well I'm glad you asked. 1. Parachutist magazine routinely has articles on equipment and the ups and downs of using it. Old issues are usually available at your local drop zone too. 2. There are a myriad of online resources - including technical articles right here on dz.com - on the issue. 3. Many drop zones offer regularly scheduled classes and seminars on everything you have mentioned, and many DZ websites include such information. and my favorite... 4. Good instructional programs include information on the risks associated with a jumper's choice of equipment. I could go on and on, but the point is made. You're trying to make it sound like the only place a jumper can learn about the potential down sides of equipment is in the annual fatality report. Nothing could be further from the truth. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Well in the eyes of the plaintiff that's a true statement. Lawsuit on. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

If Helmut didn't realize he could get included in a lawsuit in the U.S. in the way he did, he's had his head in the sand for an awfully long time. The shotgun lawsuit thing is as old as the ambulance. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

When he is advocating the positive side to be balanced he should mention the possibility of problems that the thing he is advocating could create. You have little danger of your reserve opening due to a low pull if you didn't have an AAD. Knowing that potential issue is important and ignoring it while lauding accolades on an AAD is not balanced and only a part of the story. I think mentioning that an incorrectly routed skyhook can cause a problem is EXACTLY the type of thing you should mention if you are saying how great they are. Fact is they are not... And how are they supposed to learn about it if no one mentions it? I didn't know a CYPRES does not arm till 1500 feet till my buddy burned in when he jumped out at 1200 feet. I didn't know a CYPRES would fire if you pulled low till I saw a guy land a down plane. Mr. Sitter isn't advocating anything. He is detailing the facts surrounding specific fatal accidents and why they occurred or likely occurred. The report isn't a dissertation on all the possibilities of any given technology or technique. It is a dissection of the accidents that occurred in a given year and what "may have" prevented them. The fatality report is not intended to do what you are asking for. It never has been. As for jumpers who aren't responsible enough to learn the limitations and risks associated with their equipment, they are just another fatality report waiting to be written. Maybe we should blame the modern-day instructional process that let's people get away with such ignorance for that one. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Shotgunning on the part of the plaintiff attorney. Typical tactic for a lot of legal reasons and often results in settlements on the part of those who did nothing wrong. The justification for including them is probably something like "AirTec failed to properly train riggers on proper installation, resulting in the death of the plaintiff". Bullshit, yes. But it often scores the cash. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Ignoring the possible dangers makes little sense. Any balanced approach to a subject should list the good AND the bad and let the listener/reader decide. To ignore one side of the subject is not being honest. I don't think Paul was being dishonest or ignoring anything. If he listed all the "possible dangers" of every aspect of the things he has to write about in the fatality report, he would never finish. Do you want him to cover possible AAD mis-fires? How about possible sky-hook malfunctions? Audible alert battery failure? Jumpers should be responsible enough to understand the limitations and potential problems with any gear they jump. The fatality report is not intended to be a thesis on skydiving equipment to explain those things. There are other venues for that. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Completely different premise. The above situation involves alleged negligence on the part of the person providing a service on legally required equipment. In the case of licensed jumpers, there is no legal requirement or even a USPA mandate for use and no negligence in not requiring that use. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Different argument, Bill. That's an FAR so the DZ has no choice but to require it. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Hay thanks Chuck, I'll remenber that the next time I jump it I'll link to your reply in the incident forum. Hope you don't suffer long. That's a pretty cuntish comment. I'd tell you what I think of your comment but I don't issue opinion to people too chickensh*t to identify themselves. No name, no respect. I don't really care about your opinion of me, but I wanted you to know my opinion of your comment. Mission accomplished. Clearly you feel better now. Glad you got the chance to stick your nose in. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Hay thanks Chuck, I'll remenber that the next time I jump it I'll link to your reply in the incident forum. Hope you don't suffer long. That's a pretty cuntish comment. I'd tell you what I think of your comment but I don't issue opinion to people too chickensh*t to identify themselves. No name, no respect. And yet you felt the need to reply. Don't confuse need with desire, Skippy. Your bit chomping to reply is kind of entertaining though. Silly boy. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Hay thanks Chuck, I'll remenber that the next time I jump it I'll link to your reply in the incident forum. Hope you don't suffer long. That's a pretty cuntish comment. I'd tell you what I think of your comment but I don't issue opinion to people too chickensh*t to identify themselves. No name, no respect. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Hay thanks Chuck, I'll remenber that the next time I jump it I'll link to your reply in the incident forum. Hope you don't suffer long. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Sport death. If I were you I'd be more concerned about running your hero rocket into the ground than I would be about telling everyone else about the dangers of staying alive with an RSL. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX